Rockets summary: Rookies lost in translation

With an average of less than three seasons of NBA experience, the Rockets have the least-experienced roster in the NBA. Coach Kevin McHale did not need to see the stats to know how little time many of his players have had in the NBA.

"It's going to be a bizarre season in a lot of ways," McHale said. "I feel bad for our young guys. I feel bad for everybody. The young guys aren't getting enough reps. We're trying to get ready for a game, and we're just using some typical NBA terms. 'Shoot the gap,' and Marcus (Morris) and Chandler (Parsons) are saying, 'Shoot what gap?' And you're going to say, 'Well, the guy is going to open up and you're gong to go through. It's different than lock and trail. We're going to top block wide.' And the guy is going, 'What?'

"It just takes time, and unfortunately, what that does is slow down the rhythm of practice because you're taking four and five minutes to explain stuff that veterans just go, 'two options: lock and trail and top block.' "

In a lock-and-trail defense, a defender will attach himself to an opponent's hip and chase him around screens. In top block, he would try to send his man around screens in a way that forces him toward help defense.

"It's nice when you say, 'We're going to lock and trail this guy and we're going to top block that guy,' and you see everybody (nodding)." McHale said. "When you've got three guys (giving a puzzled look) you say, 'Oh, boy.' ''

More Information

TONIGHT: ROCKETS at MEMPHIS

When/where: 7 p.m.; FedEx Forum.

TV/radio: FSH; 610 AM, 850 AM (Spanish).

Players to watch: Rockets guard Kyle Lowry has had some of the best games of his career against his former team and averaged 14.8 points and 11 assists against Memphis last season. Grizzlies center Zach Randolph had 29 points and 19 rebounds when the Grizzlies broke their seven-game losing streak to the Rockets last January and averaged 19.5 points and 13.3 rebounds against the Rockets.

Rockets (1-1) update: The game will be the second in a stretch of three games in three nights.

Grizzlies (0-2) update: Point guard Mike Conley sprained an ankle in the first minute Wednesday and is doubtful.

By the numbers:

59.5 Percent shooting for the Rockets in their first game in Memphis last season, as they took their best shooting night of the season to a 127-111 win.

Roster loophole

The Rockets' home opener came one week after center Samuel Dalembert arrived in Houston. But he did not sign until four days after agreeing to terms with the Rockets because of a holdup caused by a loophole in the collective bargaining agreement rules.

The Rockets had to clear cap space to fit Dalembert's contract. Though players waived create an immediate roster spot, because Dalembert was being fit into the cap space, rather than signed through one of the exceptions, the Rockets had to wait for Marcus Cousin and Marqus Blakely to clear waivers before they could sign Dalembert. That forced him to miss the first three practices after he arrived.

The Rockets had kept Cousin and Blakely on the roster in case their non-guaranteed contracts were needed in a trade.

Substitutions vital

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Rockets coach Kevin McHale used 10 players in the first quarter Thursday, substituting more often and quickly than in the season opener.

Though he would prefer not to make so many changes, he said he might have to follow that plan throughout the first weeks of the season.

"I said all along they're a very intelligent group and a very deep group," McHale said. "I think they understand if they're not bringing it, someone else will. I think competition inside a team is very good. At a certain point, people will beat other people out. That's just the way it works and always has and always will. I think they understand they have to bring it on the defensive end.

"Basketball is such a game of rhythm. You hate to take a guy out when he is in rhythm, but you look out there and they're awfully tired. We have to make sure we keep fresh groups out there. Getting Patrick (Patterson) back in the rotation will help us a little bit with that."